Extension Cord Safety

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Extension Cord Safety
2
Extension Cord Use

• Provides a handy and temporary way to place
  electrical equipment wherever desired.
• Largely used in construction.
• Comes in various lengths, thicknesses, and
  service duties.

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Safety Concerns

• The main causes of injury and death are primary
  related to the following
• Misuse, ( e.g., using indoor cords for outdoor
  applications)
• Damaged, (e.g., exposed strands of wires)

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Statistics

• According to the U.S. Consumer Safety Commission
  (CPSC), about 4,000 injuries each year associated
  with extension cords are treated in hospital
  emergency rooms.
• About half the injuries involve fractures,
  lacerations, or sprains from people tripping over
  extension cords.

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Statistics

• CPSC also estimates that about 3,300 residential
  fires originate in extension cords each year,
  killing 50 people and injuring about 270 others.
• Most frequent causes of fires are short circuits,
  overloading, damage, and misuse of extension
  cords.

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OSHA Regulations

• Subpart K 1926.405
• The National Electric Code requires extension
  cords to be approved and identified by the word
  "outdoor" or the letters "WA" on the jacket.
• Electrical problems are among the most commonly
  cited OSHA violations.

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OSHA Regulations

• All 120-volt, single-phase 15- and 20-ampere
  receptacle outlets on construction sites, which
  are not a part of the permanent wiring of the
  building or structure and which are in use by
  employees, shall have approved ground-fault
  circuit interrupters for personnel protection.

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Underwriters Laboratories (UL)

• Underwriters Laboratories Inc.(UL), requires that
  general use extension cords have safety closures,
  warning labels, and rating information about the
  electrical current.
• UL-listed extension cords must be constructed
  with 16 gauge or larger wire, equipped with
  integral fuses, and rated to carry 13 amperes (up
  to 1560 watts).

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NEC Regulations

• The National Electrical Code says that many
  cord-connected appliances should be equipped with
  polarized grounding type plugs (one blade wider
  than the other).
• Polarized plugs are designed to prevent
  electrical shock by properly aligning circuit
  conductors. Thus, ensuring a ground of hot wire.

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Safety Procedures

• Ask yourself 3 important questions
• Will I use the cord outdoors or indoors?
• What is the total wattage rating of the devices
  Ill use with the cord?
• How far is the nearest outlet from where Ill be
  working?

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Safety Procedures

• Reduce the likelihood of electrocution or fire
  from improper extension cord use
• Use extension cords only when necessary and only
  on a temporary basis.
• Use polarized extension cords with polarized
  devices.
• Insert plugs fully so that no part of the prongs
  are exposed when in use.

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Safety Procedures

• Use the correct size and wattage rating for each
  use.
• The gauge (size) is based on the American Wire
  Gauge (AWG) system, in which the larger the wire,
  the smaller the AWG . e.g., 12 AWG has a larger
  wattage rating than 14 AWG.

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Safety Procedures

• Don't use staples or nails to attach extension
  cords to surfaces. This could damage the cord and
  present a shock or fire hazard.
• Avoid plugging two cords together to make a
  longer one. It's best to use one cord in a
  continuous.

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Safety Procedures

• Extension cords must be visually inspected before
  use on any shift
• Any defective cord must be removed from service

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Safety Procedures

• Do not connect loads that exceed 75 of the
  maximum amperage marked on the package.
• Do not assume a "standard rating" based on wire
  size. The manufacturer may de-rate heavy-duty
  cords, cords longer than 50 feet, or cords with
  integral switches.
• If unsure of a cord rating, assume that it is 10
  amps if 50 feet or less, and 7 amps if over 50
  feet long.

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Safety Procedures

• Be aware of any hazards in your surroundings
  such as water puddles and elevated extension
  cords that may cause electrocution, tripping, or
  lacerations.
• Never keep an extension cord plugged in when not
  in use.

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• Hazard

• Safe

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